The Concept of Arabic Calligraphy
Some people may occasionally confuse the concept of Arabic calligraphy with writing, but there is a fundamental difference between them.
Arabic calligraphy is a term associated with the distinctive script created and developed by Muslims.
Arabic calligraphy includes a variety of styles and forms of letter drawings that follow rules and guidelines set by calligraphers. These styles have developed over time until they settled into their current form, which is widely recognized. Below, we will discuss six main scripts that will be revealed later.
To understand the concept of Arabic calligraphy, we can realize that the word “calligraphy” refers to “writing with a pen.” This association between calligraphy and writing is not limited to the Arabic language alone, but extends to other civilizations as well, whether in English or other languages. This definition has a comprehensive nature that encompasses several languages and writing styles.
When we talk about Arabic calligraphy
When we talk about Arabic calligraphy, we focus more on defining it and linking it to the Arabic language. Arabic calligraphy refers to the art of drawing Arabic letters beautifully, where harmony, symmetry, smoothness, and integration are evident. Al-Naqshbandi defined this art in his book Subh al-A’sha as follows:
From which we learn the shapes of individual letters, their positions, and how to combine them.
There is a diversity of opinions among historians and writers regarding Arabic calligraphy, and various concepts and definitions have been proposed for it. Sheikh Muhammad Tahir al-Kurdi’s definition is considered the best by experts, as he said:
Calligraphy is a skill that controls the movement of the fingers with the pen according to specific rules, encompassing all types of Arabic and foreign scripts, as well as those that will be invented in the future.
Sheikh Ahmad Reda, in one of his references from Irshad al-Qasid ila Asna al-Maqasid, quoted a researcher in the field of calligraphy who described calligraphy as a science that relies on recognizing the shapes of individual letters and their positions, how to combine them in writing, and the way they are used to form words and sentences. It also deals with the rules of spelling and the possibility of substituting certain letters according to these rules.
